Tag Archives: Liliaceae

Michigan’s Bellworts

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Large-flowered Bellwort - L, Sessile Bellwort - R

Large-flowered Bellwort – L, Sessile Bellwort – R

Two species of bellworts occur in Michigan. They are Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) and Sessile Bellwort or Merrybells (Uvularia sessilifolia). The Lily Family (Liliaceae) was broken into more natural groups resulting in placement of the Bellwort into the Lily-of-the-valley Family (Convallariaceae).

Uvularia grandiflora Large-flowered Bellwort - L, U. sessilifolia Sessile Bellwort - R

Large-flowered Bellwort – L, Sessile Bellwort – R

Large-flowered Bellwort has bright yellow flowers on plants 25 cm (10 inches) tall. The leaves are perfoliate meaning that the stem pierces the leaf. The undersides of the leaves have short hairs. Flowers appear on the plant before it is fully developed resulting in a weak looking plant. It occurs throughout Michigan. Bumblebees use Large-flowered Bellwort as an early nectar and pollen source.

Uvularia grandiflora Large-flowered Bellwort - L, U. sessilifolia Sessile Bellwort - R

Large-flowered Bellwort – L, Sessile Bellwort – R

Sessile Bellwort has pale yellow flowers on plants 15 cm (6 inches) tall and is a more delicate plant than the other Bellwort. Its leaves are sessile meaning that they lack a petiole (a leafstalk). The undersides of the leaves are glaucous. The plant has a unique distribution. It occurs in southeastern Michigan, eastern and extreme southern Ohio, extreme southern Indiana, and the southern tip of Illinois. It is found in central and western Wisconsin and then the west end of the Upper Peninsula. See the Flora of North America map. I know of no other plant or animal with this peculiar range.

Bellworts are flowering in southern Michigan now. Get out into a rich deciduous woods and see if you can find them.
Copyright 2014 by Donald Drife

Webpage Michigan Nature Guy
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Spring Wildflowers II

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Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot Tenhave Woods, Royal Oak, MI

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a common Michigan wildflower. Red plant juices flow through all parts of the plant, whence the common name. The juices were used as a non-permanent fabric dye and by the Native Americans as body paint. In southern Michigan, it flowers in April. Large colonies are found in rich woodlots. It reproduces by rhizomes that can form large clumps and by seed. The seeds are myrmecochorous, meaning ants distribute them.

Dicentra cucullaria

Dutchman’s-breeches, Tenhave Woods, Royal Oak, MI

Dutchman’s-breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is another common Michigan wildflower. It is often found with bloodroot and blossoms at the same time. The common name comes from the shape of the flower that resembles a pair of upside-down pants.

Erythronium americanum

Yellow Trout Lily, Tenhave Woods, Royal Oak, MI

Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). As now recognized Michigan has only two genera in the lily family, Erythronium and the true Lilies (Lilium). The remaining genera that once formed this large family have been moved into ten other families. Other common names for this species are Dog-tooth-violet, Yellow Adder’s Tongue, and Yellow Fawn Lily. This is one of the problems with common names and a good reason to use the scientific name. The yellow hanging flowers and mottled leaves are the key characters of this plant. This species has yellow anther individuals and red-brown anther individuals.

Erythronium albidum

White Trout Lily

White Trout Lily (Erythronium albidum) is a similar species with white flowers and the leaves less mottled. It is absent north of Bay City in the Lower Peninsula and is only found in the western Upper Peninsula. It trends to grow in floodplains and is locally common.

 

 

 
 

Copyright 2013 by Donald Drife

Webpage Michigan Nature Guy
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